Luke Plunkett

Two 12-year-old girls from Waukesha, Wisconsin are facing attempted murder charges following a brutal attack on one of their classmates. An attack they say was inspired by their devotion to internet horror myth Slender Man.

The accused, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, are alleged to have invited a friend over for a sleepover, during which they had planned to murder her in order to appeal to Slender Man, who they say lived in a mansion in nearby countryside.

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While out at a park the next day, Geyser is accused of stabbing their "friend" 19 times before leaving her for dead. The friend survived, however, having staggered towards a road where she was discovered and rushed to hospital.

The Journal Sentinel has a chilling account of the crime, including claims from Geyser that Slender Man had threatened to kill her family if she did not commit the murder.

Weier told police that Slender Man is the "leader" of Creepypasta, and in the hierarchy of that world, one must kill in order to show dedication. Weier said that Geyser told her they should become "proxies" of Slender Man — a paranormal figure known for his ability to create tendrils from his fingers and back — and kill their friend to prove themselves worthy of him. Weier said she was surprised by Geyser's suggestion, but also excited to prove skeptics wrong and show that Slender Man really did exist.

The two accused are being tried as adults due to the severity and nature of the crime. Were they to be tried as juveniles they would be released at the age of 25 if found guilty; tried as adults they could face up to 65 years in prison.